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Georgia Tech vs. Boston College prediction and game preview for the opening contest of the 2016 season. Find out who’s projected to win the matchup between the Yellow Jackets and Eagles.

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Georgia Tech vs. Boston College Game Preview

Broadcast Info

Date: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016

Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

Television Station: ESPN2

Georgia Tech vs. Boston College Storylines

Despite boasting a defense that led the country in yards allowed per game, the Eagles won just three games in 2015 – and none against ACC foes. Offensive improvement is paramount if Steve Addazio is to get back to the seven-win mark that he enjoyed in his first two seasons. New coordinator Scot Loeffler arrives after his stint at Virginia Tech, and he inherits Kentucky graduate transfer quarterback Patrick Towles.

The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, are also coming off of a brutal 3-9 season in which the offense did not support quarterback Justin Thomas. Can the option offense click like it once did? Defensively, the unit played well enough to keep the team in games, but four members of the secondary in the 4-2-5 have been replaced.

Here’s a look at some of the statistics as we head into the season opener.

Statistics reflect the 2015 college football season.

Georgia Tech Offensive Stats

Passing Offense: 121.3 ypg
Rushing Offense: 256.7 ypg
Total Offense: 378.0 ypg
Scoring Offense: 29.2 ppg

Boston College Offensive Stats

Passing Offense: 110.9 ypg
Rushing Offense: 164.7 ypg
Total Offense: 275.6 ypg
Scoring Offense: 17.2 ppg

Georgia Tech Defensive Stats

Passing Defense: 202.9 ypg
Rushing Defense: 165.1 ypg
Total Defense: 368.0 ypg
Scoring Defense: 25.8 ppg
Turnover Margin: -.58

Boston College Defensive Stats

Passing Defense: 171.3 ypg
Rushing Defense: 83.3 ypg
Total Defense: 254.6 ypg
Scoring Defense: 15.2 ppg
Turnover Margin: .25

Georgia Tech vs. Boston College Betting Odds

Spread: Georgia Tech -3

Over/Under: 54

Matchup to Watch

Georgia Tech’s option offense vs. Boston College’s stingy defense

The Yellow Jackets went from a nation-leading 342.1 rushing yards per game in 2014 to 256.2 last year because Thomas was surrounded by so much inexperience. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Don Brown left Chestnut Hill for Ann Arbor, so Jim Reid has big shoes to fill—and it starts with an option offense that is usually difficult to contain, especially in Week 1.

Advantages

Offense: Georgia Tech. While both units were subpar last season, BC’s offense was downright anemic.

Defense: Boston College. Reid has to fill a few holes, but Addazio will make sure that tough-nosed edge remains even without Brown.

Special Teams: Georgia Tech. Lance Austin, who returned a blocked field goal 78 yards for game-winning touchdown in a 22-16 win over Florida State last October, is back for the Jackets. The play was dubbed the “Miracle on Techwood Drive,” so that’s good enough for me.

Coaching: Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson extended the Jackets’ bowl streak to 18 years until the team struggled to three wins last year. Expect a bounce back season in Atlanta.

Intangibles: Boston College. The game will be played in Ireland, so it’s hard to go against anything Boston-related.

Georgia Tech vs. Boston College Prediction

These two teams combined for a 6-18 mark last fall, so a fast start and netting a Week 1 conference win is the No. 1 priority for both coaching staffs. It might not be pretty, but expect the Tech option to run well enough to notch the victory.

Final Score Prediction For Georgia Tech vs. Boston College: Georgia Tech 22, Boston College 16

MORE: 2016 College Football Bowl Projections